“Modern Trends in Composite Development”

Abstract

At present the mankind has entered the period often called the era of new technologies and materials. Great achievements in the fundamental science, unprecedented integration of science and technology became catalysts of changes occuring in our life, and this.primarily refers to structural and functional materials being the basis of the material world around. There is known a period in the mankind history which is called the Stone Age by the main material employed at that time. Then the Bronze Age ensued. The 20th century is used to be called the Steel Age, the definition being true in the first half of the century, but may it be regarded as such in the nineties? For the latest decades the traditional metallurgy has been undergoing a considerable regression. In 1987 the steel production in the world was the same, and even somewhat lees (737 mln.t.), as in 1979 (747 mln.t.), the share of West Europe and North America being reduced from 42% down to 38.5%, and that of the USSR+CMEA and developing countries being increased (Table 1).